Divisions and Differences in Qualitative and Quantitative Research: A Critical View

(Fahad Mohammed Alammar)

---

Abstract

Despite the importance of qualitative research within the social sciences, a close observer of scientific research will notice a tendency towards quantitative research in our educational institutions and Arabic-refereed journals. This bias is usually justified based on the pretext that qualitative research is less rigorous and scientific than quantitative research. This tendency has led to a scarcity of qualitative research compared to quantitative research, thus depriving society of the benefit of the rich data qualitative research could provide. As a result, this research has investigated the causes of this phenomenon within its historical and philosophical contexts. It has also reviewed evidence that shows the bias against qualitative research and the consequences of such a mindset on the scientific community. This research aims to shed light on this situation and clarify the misconception that qualitative research is less scientific than quantitative research. By providing viewpoints and commentary, this research is expected to help clear up misunderstandings and contribute to a more favorable sentiment towards qualitative research.

KEYWORDS
Qualitative research, quantitative research, research methodology, scientific research

PDF

References

Ahmad, A. and Musaa, M. (2019). Aitijahat 'aeda' hayyat altadris fi Kuliyat Altarbiat Jamieat Najran nahw aistikhdam manahij albahth alkayfii fi albihwth altarbawia ‘Attitudes of faculty members in the College of Education at Najran University towards the use of qualitative research methods in educational research’. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, 3(24), 78–100 [in Arabic]
Alabdulkareem, R.H. (2012). Albahth Alnaweiu fi Altarbia ‘Qualitative Research in Rducation’. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Saud University. [in Arabic]
Aldahshat, W. (2016). Albahth alnaweiat mudkhalanaan limuealajat bed jawanib 'azmat albahth fi aleulum al'iinsaniat w altarbawia ‘Qualitative research is an entry point to address some aspects of the research crisis in the humanities and educational sciences’. In: The First International Conference of the Faculty of Arts, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt, 08/06/2016. [in Arabic]
Aleazzawi, S.J.M. (2017). Albahth alkayfiu fi alealaqat aleamati: dirasat tahliliat libihawth alealaqat aleamat fi Aleiraq lilmadat min 1989 'iilaa 2016 ‘Qualitative research in public relations: An analytical study of public relations research in Iraq for the period from 1989 to 2016’. Media Researcher Journal, 10(38), 96–114. [in Arabic]
Alhunun, I.A. (2016). Madaa aistikhdam manhajiat albahth alnaweii fi altarbiat alkhast: Dirasatan tahliliat lieashar majalaat Arabiat mahkamat min 2005 'iilaa 2014 ‘The extent of using qualitative research methodology in special education: An analytical study of ten Arab refereed Journals from 2005 to 2014’. Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation, 3(10), 179–212. [in Arabic]
Almusaa, A.I.A. (2019). Tasawur Muqtarah Litafeil Albahth Alkayfii Fi Tukhasas 'Usul Altarbiat Bialjamieat Alsewdyt Fi Daw' Alkhubrat Alealamiat Almueasira ‘A Proposed Conception to Activate Qualitative Research in the Field of Pedagogy in Saudi Universities in Light of Contemporary Global Experiences’. PhD Thesis, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [in Arabic]
Altawayjriu, S.A. (2020). Mueawiqat aistikhdam tullab watalibat aldirasat aleulya fi tukhasas 'usul altarbia Bijamieat Al'imam Muhamad Bin Sueud Al'iislamiat lilbahth alnaweii wasubul altaghalub ealiha ‘Obstacles to using postgraduate students in the field of pedagogy at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University for qualitative research and ways to overcome them’. Arab Science Journal, 3(23), 379–442. [in Arabic]
Alzaydi, D.E.E. (2019). Mueawiqat aistikhdam almanhaj alkayfii fi bihawth al'iidarat w alqiadat altarbawiat min wijhat nazar 'aeda' hayyat altadris bialjamieat Alsewdia ‘Obstacles to using the qualitative approach in educational management and leadership research from the viewpoint of faculty members in Saudi universities’. The Specialized International Educational Journal, 8(4), 87–99. [in Arabic]
Birks, M. and Mills, J. (2011). Grounded Theory: A practical guide. London, UK: Sage publications.
Bryman, A. (2011). Socail Research Methods. 4th edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Bryman, A., and Bell, E. (2007). Business Research Methods. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Cooper, A. F. and White, R. E. (2011). Qualitative Research in the Post-Modern Era: Contexts of Qualitative Research. London, UK: Springer Science and Business Media.
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 4th edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Inc.
Culbertson, J. A. (1988). A century’s quest for a knowledge base. In: N. J. Boyan (eds.), Handbook of Research on Educational Administration. New York, NY: Longham.
Denzin, N. K, and Lincoln, Y. S. (1998). Collecting and Interpreting Qualitative Materials. London, UK: Sage.
Eunsur, Y. (1995). Tahlil watafsir albayanat bayn alnuzeatayn alkamiyat walkayfia ‘Analyze and interpret data between the quantitative and qualitative trends’. Human Sciences Journal. 6(1), 79–82. [in Arabic]
Fadil, D. (2014). Maeayir alsidq walthibbat fi albihwth alkmyt walkyfy ‘Standards of validity and reliability in quantitative and qualitative research’. Social Sciences Journal, 19(83), 82–91. [in Arabic]
Firestone, W. A. (1987). Meaning in Method: The rhetoric of quantitative and qualitative research. Educational Researcher, 16(7), 16–21.
Glaser, B. and Strauss, A. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.
Goulding, C. (2002). Grounded theory: A Practical Guide for Management, Business and Market Researchers. London, UK: SAGE Publications.
Guba, E. G. (1990). The Paradigm Dialog. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Guba, E. G. and Lincoln, Y. S. (1989). Fourth Generation Evaluation. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
Hammersley, M. (1992). What’s Wrong With Ethnography? Methodological Exploration. London, UK: Routledge.
Jamal, A. (2010). Albahth Alearabiu fi altarbiat alkhasa (1998-2007): Tahlil litawajuhatiha, w jawdtiha, w ealaqatiha bialmumarasat altarbawia ‘Arab research in special education (1998-2007): An analysis of its trends, its quality, and its relationship to educational practices’. Jordanian Journal of Educational Sciences, 6(4), 285–302. [in Arabic]
Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. 2nd edition. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago.
Laeiadi, N.A. (2010). Alrahanat al'iibstmulujiat w alfalasafiat lilbahth alkayfi: Nahw afaq jadidat libihawth al'iielam w alaitisal ‘The epistemological and philosophical stakes of qualitative research: Toward new horizons for media and communication research’. Journal of Social Affairs, 27(107), 111–38. [in Arabic]
Leininger, M. (1994). Evaluation criteria and critique of qualitative research studies. In: J. M. Morse (eds.), Critical issues in Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Lincoln, Y. S. and Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Lincoln, Y. S., Lynham, S. A. and Guba, E. G. (2011). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences, revisited. In: N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln (eds.), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Merriam, S. B. and Tisdell, E. J. (2014). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. 4th edition. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and Sons.
Newman, I. and Benz, C. R. (1998). Qualitative-Quantitative Research Methodology : Exploring the Interactive Continuum. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University.
Ochieng, P. A. (2009). An analysis of the strengths and limitation of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 13(13), 13–8.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Two decades of developments in qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 1(3), 261–83.
Qandiliji, A. and Alsaamirayiyi, E. (2009). Albahth Aleilmiu Alkamiyu W Alnaweiu ‘Quantitative and Qualitative Scientific Research’. Jordan, Amman: Al-Yazouri Scientific House for Publishing and Distribution. [in Arabic]
Rayan, A.M. (2003). Aistikhdam almadkhalayn alkayfii walkamiyi fi albhth: Dirasat aistitlaeiat lawaqie 'adabiyat al'iidarat Alearabia ‘The use of qualitative and quantitative approaches in the research is an exploratory study of the reality of Arab management literature’. In: The Third Arab Conference for Administrative Research and Publishing, Cairo, Egypt. [in Arabic]
Strauss, A., and Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newburry Park, CA: SAGE.
Walsh, K. (2012). Board Editorial: Quantitative vs qualitative research: A false dichotomy. Journal of Research in Nursing, 17(1), 9–11.
Winter, G. (2000). A comparative discussion of the notion of “validity” in qualitative and quantitative research. The Qualitative Report, 4(3), 1–14.
Wolcott, H. F. (1992). Posturing in qualitative research. In: M. D. LeCompte, W. L. Millroy, and J. Preissle (eds.), The Handbook of Qualitative Research in Education. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative Research from Start to Finish. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.